May. 7, 2008 - What's so good about Bamboo Hardwood Floors?
I recently listed a townhome at Rivertrail in Redmond where the owners replaced the carpet on the first floor with bamboo flooring from bamboohardwoods.com
Above is a sample of the flooring used, and I am noting some info from the brochure so I have a link to some FAQ's about this "strand woven engineered" bamboo floor.
Why Use Bamboo?
"Bamboo is harvested and replenished with no impact to the environment. It can be selectively harvested annually and is capable of complete regeneration without the need to replant. Because of its short growth cycle, it can be harvested in 3-5 years vs. 10-100 years for most tree woods."
Strength and Durability
"The Janka Ball Harness Test measures the force required to drive a 11.28mm steel ball half it's diameter into the wood. The test is a good indicator of resistance to denting as well as its harness for nailing and drilling."
From softest to hardest: Fir-Pine-NA Cherry-Walnut-Moso Bamboo-Red Oak-White Oak-Maple-Kempas-Solid Bamboo-Tropical Bamboo-Merbau-Brazilian Cherry-Woven Bamboo.
The Finish
"Finished with UV ceramic...a non-toxic UV cured layer. Above that is a hardened scratch resistant top coat that can be recoated without sanding. The overall finish is formeldehyde free and warrantied by the manufacturer for 25 years."
Engineered vs. Solid
"An engineered floor, by definition, is cross laminated. These floors are real wood from top to bottom vs. Pergo which is particle board witha picture of wood laminated on it." Engineered floors were developed in part so that they could be installed over radiant heat and because they are more stable in areas where hardwood alone does not hold up well. So engineered wood is the choice when you are continuing into the kitchen from the living areas as engineered floors will hold up better in kitchens and bathrooms.
Woven Strand Bamboo (see page 22 of 2008 Product Catalog) hits the highest level of 3000 on the Janka Hardness scale. "Flooring this hard is very rare and offers an extreme resistance to dents".
"No wood floor is scratch-proof...pads should be adhered to the feet of all furniture...spike heeled shoes should be removed...pet nails should be trimmed and furniture should be lifted whenever possible."
May. 8, 2008 - RE: What's so good about Bamboo Hardwood Floors?
Posted by Kevin Tomlinson
Sarah--
I'm a real estate agent in Miami. The comment that resonates the most with me is that people hate the hollow-sound when you walk on it; It reminds them of PERGO.
Unfortunately, here in Miami, people are not as eco-conscious as they are in the northwest.
May. 8, 2008 - RE: What's so good about Bamboo Hardwood Floors?
Posted by Sarah
We have a glued down woven solid bamboo- so 'hollow' is not what you hear/feel at all. It probably really makes a difference who manufactures the flooring. Bamboo Hardwoods makes a really great product - at $6/sq foot- see the woven in honey pictured here: http://www.bamboohardwoods.com/items.asp?Cc=FLRMOSOWOVEN&
I think the products you are seeing ripped out are older and original versions that have now been perfected. Same with most newer products, the originals have flaws that are corrected over time.
May. 13, 2008 - RE: What's so good about Bamboo Hardwood Floors?
Posted by ines
I have to agree with Kevin (I can't believe I'm saying that) - from an architect's point of view, when bamboo flooring came out a few years ago, we were all pushing it - the weathering is atrocious - it scratches, it chips and looks horrible in only a few months.
It was a great concept, but manufacturers have not gotten it right yet. People in Miami are ripping them out.
May. 14, 2008 - RE: What's so good about Bamboo Hardwood Floors?
Posted by biliruben
We installed this exact product in our house. I'm not sure it was installed yet when you came and looked at our house, Ardell.
I really like how it looks, and apparently the new owners do too. I didn't life long enough on it to tell you how it wears, but like any finish, it scratched. I assume the underlying wood was fine, and we got it because we have a big dog, but I can say for sure.
May. 22, 2008 - RE: What's so good about Bamboo Hardwood Floors?
Posted by Susan Gruenling
Interesting to see these varying viewpoints. We do not see many bamboo floors out here in the desert.
Ardell, you did mention a pro to bamboo floors ibeing that they have no "v" grooves to catch dirt. We have been seeing a lot of the new wood floors with these grooves. People hate them. They do trap dirt and are tough to clean. I hosted an open house in a high-end home (over $4mil) that had some beautiful "wood" floors. They received many positive comments. They were actually ceramic tile. They had the look of wood including a slight texture and ease of maintenence. I wonder if we will be seeing more of them.
May. 24, 2008 - RE: What's so good about Bamboo Hardwood Floors?
Posted by Spencer
Bamboo is actually a grass and not a wood, yes it is strong and a great product. I have installed many sf and the only drawl back is it is easily scrathed and marked. If you own a large dog expect many nail marks on the flooring.. give it character! Still love it!
Jul. 17, 2009 - RE: What's so good about Bamboo Hardwood Floors?
Posted by Julie H
We installed woven bamboo flooring (bamboo fusion) about 16 months ago in a downstairs hallway that has LOTS of 100 lb dog and general cat and foot traffic. So far, despite numerous attempts by the animals to scratch or dent it, it still looks brand new (I'm astounded actually, but extremely pleased).
This is in comparison to our Swedish finish red/white oak combo flooring in two bedrooms, each with light foot and some animal traffic - both of which have so many dents and a few scratches after only 3 years that we're wondering why we spent the money on the Swedish finish at all. We're contemplating ripping up the rest of the oak flooring and replacing it with the bamboo fusion. We figure it'll last a lot longer and look better over time.
Oct. 25, 2009 - RE: What's so good about Bamboo Hardwood Floors?
Posted by AK
In British Columbia, Canada A lot of people rip out Bamboo within a few years. It doesn't react well to climates with high or unstable humidity levels. Also if you consider the chemicals used in production, the oil/gas used in the manufacturing and transportation, the working conditions of where the bamboo comes from (whether the workers are protected from the harsh chemicals and their pay), the environments and the ecosystems repeatedly being destroyed as demand goes up for bamboo products... after all this. It is actually more enviromentally friendly or "green" to use recycled wood floors, or wood from sustainable/managed local forests.
I work in design and architecture and I personally can't stand Bamboo. People keep saying that it just grows quickly and that somehow equals it being "green" but there is so much more to it.
Also, it takes more to create one plank of bamboo wood because it is not flat naturally. you strand it and then glue it all together. I have never suggested Bamboo for people who want to keep the environment in mind, and until things change and until the processing becomes more regulated and we know more about every step in the process of making bamboo products, I will never use it.
ARDELL
DellaLoggia
On Seattle Real Estate including Kirkland, Bellevue, Redmond, Green Lake and most areas around Lake Washington North of Downtown Seattle.
Phone: 206-910-1000 - Mailto:Ardell@RainCityGuide.com
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